Device for opening a window grille in case of fire

ABSTRACT

A window grille slidably retained in an exterior bracket has a socket fixed thereto for receiving the end of a lock shaft projecting through the wall structure. A lock plate is fixed to the shaft on the inside of the wall structure. A hook formation projecting from the wall structure in overlying relation to the lock plate prevents withdrawal of the lock shaft from the socket except in a release position to which the lock plate is rotated by a handle connected to the inside end of the lock shaft.

item States atem 1191 [111 3,913,957

Astie et al. Oct. 21, 1975 DEVICE FOR OPENING A WINDOW GRILLE IN CASE OFFIRE Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe [76] Inventors: Georges P. Astie,1248 W. 78th Attorney Agent or Flrmclarence O Bnent Terrace, Hialeah,Fla. 33120; Jean Harvey Jacobson J. Astie; Gabriel 5. Astie, both of6899 NW. 7th Ave., Miami, Fla.

33150 [57] ABSTRACT A window grille slidably retained in an exterior[22] Flled' July 1974 bracket has a socket fixed thereto for receivingthe PP 490,870 end of a lock shaft projecting through the wallstructure. A lock plate is fixed to the shaft on the inside of 52] US.Cl. 292/57; 292/DIG. 65; 292/92 the etmetutefermatiowpmiecting them 511m. 01. E05C 5/02 the Structure evehyhg elaheh t0 the leek [58] Field ofSearch 292/57, 58, 59, 60, 61, Plate Prevents Withdrawal ef the leekShaft them the 292/62 92 DIG 49/50 57 socket except in a releaseposition to which the lock plate is rotated by a handle connected to theinside References 6nd Of the lock Shaft.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3,352,585 11/1967Crosswell 292/113 X US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,957

U.S. Patmt Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,913,957

DEVICE FOR OPENING A WINDOW GRILLE IN CASE OF FIRE This inventionrelates to a releasable locking arrangement for an exterior windowgrille.

The mounting and locking of window grilles on the outside of a buildingwall is well known. While it is essential that such grilles be reliablysecured in place as a protective measure, it is also of utmostimportance that such grilles be easily and quickly released from insidethe buildingto provide exit from the-window open ing in the event offire. The structural arrangement of the present invention uniquelyachieves these objectives.

Structural arrangements possibly pertinent to this invention, which areknown to applicants, are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 224,324, 1,150,450,1,396,478 and 1,434,523.

In accordance with the present invention a window grille is insertedupwardly into a slide bracket fixed on the outside to a vertical wallstructure and is retained in place by a lock shaft extendinghorizontally through the wall structure below the window opening into asocket secured to the window grille. Thus, upon with drawal of the lockshaft inwardly of the wall structure, the grille will drop down and outof the bracket to permit exit through the window opening. The lock shafthas a circular lock plate secured thereto abutting the wall structure onthe inside. A hook formation projects from the wall structure inoverlying relation to the lock plate to prevent withdrawal of the shaft.In one angular position of the lock shaft, a radial slot in the lockplate is aligned with the hook formation to permit withdrawal of theshaft and release of the grille. A handle is pivotally connected to thelock shaft at the inside end to rotate the lock plate to the releaseposition and axially withdraw the lock shaft.

These together with other objects and advantages .which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the structural arrangement of the presentinvention installed in atypical wall structure.

FIG. 2 is an inside front elevation view of the installation shown inFIG. 1 in a locked condition.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view similar to FIG. 2 but in the releaseposition.

FIG. 4 is a side section view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 44 in FIG.

showing the grille released.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 4 show any typicalvertical building wall structure having a window opening 12 adapted tobe blocked on the outside by a window grille generally denoted byreference numeral 14. A bracket assembly 16 is fixedly mounted byfasteners 18 on the exterior surface 20 of the wall structure andincludes parallel spaced, vertical slides or tracks 22 interconnectedbelow the window opening by a bridging member 24. The grille 14 isslidably received in the tracks 22 by being inserted upwardly from belowthe bracket assembly.

A tubular socket 26 is secured to the window grille centrally along itsbottom edge and projects axially FIG. 5 is a side section view similarto FIG. 4 but therefrom into abutment with an anchor plate 28 secured tothe exterior surface, 20 of thewall structure by fasteners 30. Theanchor plate 28 is positioned centrally below the window opening 12 andis aligned with an anchor plate 32 secured to the interior surface 34 ofthe wall structure by fasteners 36. The socket 26 is axially alignedwith holes centrally formed in the anchor plates and a horizontalopening 38 in the wall structure, when the grille is in proper positionas more clearly seen in FIG. 4.

The grille is retained in position by an elongated, tubular lock shaft40 having one axial end 42 received in the socket 26. The lock shaft isslidably and rotatably supported in the opening 38 and by the anchorplates 28 and 32 with its axial end 44 exposed on the inside of the wallstructure. A handle 46 is in the form of a ring element andis pivotallyconnected to the lock shaft adjacent to the end 44. By use of the handlering 46, axial and angular displacement may be imparted to the lockshaft.

A circular lock plate 48 is concentrically fixed to the lock shaft tolimit its insertion into the wall structure by abutment with the anchorplate 32. A planar hook element 50 is secured to the anchor plate 32 inradial overlying relation to the lock plate 48 as more clearly seen inFIGS. 2 and 4. The hook element thus forms a recess 52 through which thelock plate is rotatable but prevents axial displacement of the lockplate inwardly and withdrawal of the lock shaft from the socket 26.

The lock plate 48 is provided with a radial slot 54 that is wider thanthe hook element 50 with which it may be aligned as shown in FIG. 3.Thus, the lock plate may be rotated by the handle ring 46 to the singlerelease position shown in FIG. 3 permitting axial withdrawal of the lockshaft as shown in FIG. 5. When the lock shaft is withdrawn from thesocket as shown, the grille 16 will drop down out of the bracketassembly.

vEasy and rapid removal of the grille is thereby effected from theinside of the building only. 7

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and-operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retainedin a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising an axiallyslidable, rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wallstructure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externallymounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of thewall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other endinteriorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaftinteriorly of the wall structure and having a single angular releaseposition, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlyingrelation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of theshaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the releaseposition of the lock element, said lock element comprising a lock platehaving a slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of thelock element.

2. The combination of claim 1 including anchor plates secured to thewall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with saidopening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, saidhook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to thewall structure.

3. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retainedin a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising arotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure andhaving opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted memberreceiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wallstructure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other endinteriorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaftinteriorly of the wall structure and having a single angular releaseposition, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlyingrelation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of theshaft from the opening in thewall structure except in the releaseposition of the lock element, anchor plates secured to the wallstructure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with saidopening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, saidhook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to thewall structure, and said lock element comprising a circular plate havinga radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of thelock element.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said hook means comprises a planarhook formation radially positioned relative to the shaft and forming arecess through which the circular plate is rotatable.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said handle comprises a ringelement pivotally connected to the shaft.

6. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retainedin a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall'st ructure, comprising arotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wall structure andhaving opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externally mounted memberreceiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of the wallstructure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other endinteriorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaftinteriorly of the wall structure and having a single angular releaseposition, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlyingrelation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of theshaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the releaseposition of the lock element, said lock element comprising a circularplate having a radial slot aligned with the hook means in the releaseposition of the lock element.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hook means comprises a planarhook formation radially positioned relative to the shaft and forming arecess through which the circular plate is rotatable.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a ringelement pivotally connected to the shaft.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said externally mounted member isa protective window grille slidably received in the bracket.

10. In combination with a vertical wall structure having a windowopening protectively blocked by an exterior grille, bracket means fixedto the wall structure for retaining the grille in alignment with thewindow opening, a socket secured to the grille below the window opening,a lock shaft extending through the wall structure and received in saidsocket to prevent the grille from dropping out of the bracket means, alock plate secured to the shaft and displaceable therewith from aposition abutting the wall structure to withdraw the shaft from thesocket, hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relationto the lock plate for preventing said displacement thereof from abuttingrelation to the wall structure except in one angular release position ofthe lock plate, and handle means connected to the shaft for rotation ofthe lock plate to said release position and axial withdrawal of theshaft from the socket.

1. A releasable locking device for an externally mounted member retainedin a bracket fixed exteriorly to a wall structure, comprising an axiallyslidable, rotatable shaft extending through an opening in the wallstructure and having opposite ends, a socket fixed to said externallymounted member receiving one of said ends of the shaft exteriorly of thewall structure, a handle connected to the shaft adjacent the other endinteriorly of the wall structure, a lock element fixed to the shaftinteriorly of the wall structure and having a single angular releaseposition, and hook means secured to the wall structure in overlyingrelation to the lock element for preventing axial withdrawal of theshaft from the opening in the wall structure except in the releaseposition of the lock element, said lock element comprising a lock platehaving a slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of thelock element.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including anchor platessecured to the wall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holesaligned with said opening in the wall structure to receive the shafttherethrough, said hook means projecting from the anchor plate securedinteriorly to the wall structure.
 3. A releasable locking device for anexternally mounted member retained in a bracket fixed exteriorly to awall structure, comprising a rotatable shaft extending through anopening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, a socket fixedto said externally mounted member receiving one of said ends of theshaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connected to the shaftadjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, a lock elementfixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure and having a singleangular release position, and hook means secured to the wall structurein overlying relation to the lock element for preventing axialwithdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structure except inthe release position of the lock element, anchor plates secured to thewall structure exteriorly and interiorly having holes aligned with saidopening in the wall structure to receive the shaft therethrough, saidhook means projecting from the anchor plate secured interiorly to thewall structure, and said lock element comprising a circular plate havinga radial slot aligned with the hook means in the release position of thelock element.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said hook meanscomprises a planar hook formation radially positioned relative to theshaft and forming a recess through which the circular plate isrotatable.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said handle comprises aring element pivotally connected to the shaft.
 6. A releasable lockingdevice for an externally mounted member retained in a bracket fixedexteriorly to a wall structure, comprising a rotatable shaft extendingthrough an opening in the wall structure and having opposite ends, asocket fixed to said externally mounted member receiving one of saidends of the shaft exteriorly of the wall structure, a handle connectedto the shaft adjacent the other end interiorly of the wall structure, alock element fixed to the shaft interiorly of the wall structure andhaving a single angular release position, and hook means secured to thewall structure in overlying relation to the lock element for preventingaxial withdrawal of the shaft from the opening in the wall structureexcept in the release position of the lock element, said lock elementcomprising a circular plate having a radial slot aligned with the hookmeans in the release position of the lock element.
 7. The combination ofclaim 6 wherein said hook means comprises a planar hook formationradially positioned relative to the shaft and forming a recess throughwhich the circular plate is rotatable.
 8. The combination of claim 1wherein said handle comprises a ring element pivotally connected to theshaft.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said externally mountedmember is a protective window grille slidably received in the bracket.10. In combination with a vertical wall structure having a windowopening protectively blocked by an exterior grille, bracket means fixedto the wall structure for retaining the grille in alignment with thewindow opening, a socket secured to the grille below the window opening,a lock shaft extending through the wall structure and received in saidsocket to prevent the grille from dropping out of the bracket means, alock plate secured to the shaft and displaceable therewith from aposition abutting the wall structure to withdraw the shaft from thesocket, hook means secured to the wall structure in overlying relationto the lock plate for preventing said displacement thereof from abuttingrelation to the wall structure except in one angular release position ofthe lock plate, and handle means connected to the shaft for rotation ofthe lock plate to said release position and axial withdrawal of theshaft from the socket.